Digital display

ABSTRACT

A plurality of number carrying blocks, each in the form of a rectangular parallelopiped, are supported in a display housing. The housing has a plurality of adjacent windows positioned at, and open to, mutually perpendicular block receiving areas. The windows are defined, in part, by generally angular wall sections arranged so that the blocks positioned in either one of the block receiving areas project through the windows. Two numbers are provided on each of the side walls of each body and a single number at one of the body ends, that end number being the numeral six so that it can function both as a six and a nine. The opposite end of each body is left blank. One number is exposed for viewing at each window.

nite States Patent [191 Buschman Aug. 20, 1974 DIGITAL DlSPLAY [75] Inventor: Edward M. Buschman, New York,

[22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 412,737

Kahre et al. 35/70 X 3,670,436 6/1972 Wcissman 40/107 Primary Examinerl-larland S. Skogquist Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras [57] ABSTRACT A plurality of number carrying blocks, each in the form of a rectangular parallelopiped, are supported in a display housing. The housing has a plurality of adjacent windows positioned at, and open to, mutually perpendicular block receiving areas. The windows are defined, in part, by generally angular wall sections arranged so that the blocks positioned in either one of the block receiving areas project through the windows. Two numbers are provided oneach of the side walls of each body and a single number at one of the body ends, that end number being the numeral six so that it can function both as a six and a nine. The opposite end of each body is left blank. One number is exposed for viewing at each window,

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures DIGITAL DISPLAY DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT This invention will be discussed in connection with a The use of number carrying cubes to provide various 5 p y arrangement for displaying a Weekly Winning types of visual digital readouts is well known. For example, recently the use of number carrying cubes has become popular in perpetual calendars. Cubic elements are convenient because of the ease with which they can be handled to vary the number displayed. They are, however, limited since they provide space for only six numerals for display purposes. Thus, in applications where the number of number cubes which can be used is limited, and where all of the available numbers zero through nine must be made available, cubes are not practical. The size of the body to carry the numbers can be increased so that numbers can be added but display of those numbers on a selective basis becomes complicated. The problem is to provide adequate space on a particular body to accommodate all of the usable numbers and to do so in a manner which permits selective viewing of one number at a time from each body. An example of such installations would be the display of a weekly winning lottery number in State run lotterres.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Among the general objects of this invention is to provide a digital display arrangement which makes available for selective display all of the numbers zero through nine and to do so in a relatively simple and effective manner.

For the achievement of that and other objects, this invention proposes an arrangement including a plurality of blocks each generally in the shape of a rectangular parallelopiped. On each body two numbers are provided on each side wall and one number is provided on at least one end of each body. This then provides all of the numbers from zero through nine, the numeral six being on the end and functioning as both a six and a nine. A housing for the number carrying blocks is provided and has a plurality of adjacent, aligned windows each positioned at, and open to, first and second block receiving areas which are at an angle to each other. A screen is provided at the first areas and when a body is positioned in the first area or second area only one number is exposed above the screen. The blocks, when in either the first or second areas, project through the windows so that, not only is a number visible, but the blocks are accessible for manipulation.

Preferably the first areas extend vertically and the second areas extend horizontally and the screen provides one of the walls defining the first areas. The windows are provided, in part, by angular wall sections.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in or be apparent from, the specification and claims, as will obvious modifications of the embodiment shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective, slightly exploded, illustrating a digital display;

FIG. 2 is a section view generally along lines 22 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a section view generally along lines 33 in FIG. 1.

number in a state operated lottery but it will be appreciated that the invention is not so limited but has other applications.

With particular reference to the drawing, a number carrying block 10 is provided and has the shape of a rectangular parallelopiped. The block has four side walls, 12, I4, 16, and 18 and opposite ends 20 and 22. Each of the side walls carries two numbers. These numbers are arranged one number on one-half of each side wall and written generally on the center line of the side wall. In other words, the numbers on each side wall are oppositely oriented with respect to the center line of that side wall. The numeral six is provided on one end, end 20 in FIG. 1, so that a single numeral can function as both a six and a nine. This arrangement thus provides all of the nine available numbers on the block while leaving one of the ends of the block blank should a blank be necessary in the display.

Blocks identical to block 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, and 10c are provided and are illustrated as supported in housing 24. It will be noted that the blank ends of the blocks are illustrated in conjunction with blocks 10a, 10b, and 10c.

Housing 24 is designed to support the blocks such that only one number from each block is exposed at a time. This is accomplished by providing a plurality of windows in the housing and an arrangement for supporting the blocks in the windows.

In the specific embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the areas for supporting the blocks are formed in the housing 24 in the following manner. A first general area 26 defined by a front wall 28, a rear wall 30, and a bottom wall 32 all of which extend the length of housing 24. In use, area 26 is viewed as being oriented gen erally on a vertical plane so as to hold the number carrying blocks in an upright position. Another general area 34 is defined by a back wall 36, an upper wall 38, and a lower wall 40 again each wall extends the length of the housing. In use area 34 is viewed as being oriented generally horizontal. The opposite ends of areas 26 and 34 are closed by common end walls 42 and 44.

In the illustrated embodiment the windows 48, in which the blocks are to be positioned, are defined by angular walls 46 spaced along the length of the housing. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will now be seen that the window between each adjacent pair of angular walls 46 is positioned at, and open to, two specific mutually perpendicular areas. These specific areas being part of general areas 26 and 34. In FIG. 2, block 10c is positioned in area 26 and extends vertically through one of the windows 48 and, as viewed in FIG. 3, block 10d is positioned in area 34 and extends horizontally through another window 48.

In use, vertically oriented blocks rest on bottom wall 32 while extending through their respective window. Wall 28 functions as a screen and is made sufficiently high to block out the lower numeral on the vertically arranged block. When the blocks are supported in the horizontal area 34, the length of the block and the positioning of the walls defining area 26 are such that the end of the horizontally arranged block (see FIG. 3)

rests on the upper edge of front wall 28 so that the end of the horizontal block is thus in general alignment with and is consistent with the numeral display provided by the vertically arranged blocks.

Walls 46 are generally angular so that they not only define the windows at which the numbers are displayed but also leave the number carrying blocks accessible for manipulation to change the orientation of the blocks and the numbers displayed as desired. That is, the walls define an angular plane through which the blocks extend so that they can be handled to change the number displayed.

The use of the spaced walls 46 and the continuous areas 26 and 34 is an effective manner of defining the block support areas as it lends itself well to die casting techniques.

It will also be noted that the exposed space of wall 28, i.e., the screen is available to carry various indicia and the housing 24 can be increased in height to increase the area available for such indicia.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

I. A digital display comprising, in combination a plurality of blocks generally in the shape of a parallelopiped each block having at least two numbers provided on each side wall and one number on at least one end,

a housing for supporting said blocks, means defining a plurality of windows in said housmeans defining first and second mutually perpendicular support areas at each of said windows,

and said windows open to both said first and second areas and arranged so that said blocks are positioned at said windows when located in either said first and second areas.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said windows are spaced along the length of said housing,

and said first and second areas are part of continuous areas extending generally the length of said housing behind said windows.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said windows are defined by spaced wall sections extending at an angle to each of said first and second areas and defining a plane through which said blocks extend when positioned in either said first or second areas.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first areas extend generally vertical in use and said second areas extend generally horizontal,

and said housing includes means defining a screen adjacent said first areas of a height sufficient to cover approximately one-half of blocks positioned in said first area and expose one number on each block above said screen.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein blocks positioned in said second areas extend to and are supported on said screen.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said windows are defined by spaced wall sections extending at an angle to each of said first and second areas and defining a plane through which said blocks extend when positioned in either said first or second areas.

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1. A digital display comprising, in combination a plurality of blocks generally in the shape of a parallelopiped each block having at least two numbers provided on each side wall and one number on at least one end, a housing for supporting said blocks, means defining a plurality of windows in said housing, means defining first and second mutually perpendicular support areas at each of said windows, and said windows open to both said first and second areas and arranged so that said blocks are positioned at said windows when located in either said first and second areas.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said windows are spaced along the length of said housing, and said first and second areas are part of continuous areas extending generally the length of said housing behind said windows.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said windows are defined by spaced wall sections extending at an angle to each of said first and second areas and defining a plane through which said blocks extend when positioned in either said first or second areas.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first areas extend generally vertical in use and said second areas extend generally horizontal, and said housing includes means defining a screen adjacent said first areas of a height sufficient to cover approximately one-half of blocks positioned in said first area and expose one number on each block above said screen.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein blocks positioned in said second areas extend to and are supported on said screen.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said windows are defined by spaced wall sections extending at an angle to each of said first and second areas and defining a plane through which said blocks extend when positioned in either said first or second areas. 